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Mexican Government, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and the Carlos Slim Foundation have signed an agreement, which includes a permanent ban on gillnets, the retrieval of all abandoned or lost “ghost” nets and the development of new fishing gear and techniques.

The elusive vaquita, nicknamed the ‘panda of the sea’, is on the brink of extinction because of the use of gillnets, with an estimated 30 or fewer remaining.

The Government of Mexico, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and the Carlos Slim Foundation have signed an agreement to support emergency measures to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise and the Upper Gulf of California ecosystem. The agreement includes a permanent ban on gillnets by Mexico and the retrieval of all abandoned or lost “ghost” nets within the area, as well as the development of new fishing gear and techniques to allow local communities to resume legal, sustainable fishing activities – measures urgently requested that WWF considers essential to preventing the vaquita’s extinction.

Heather Sohl, Chief Advisor Wildlife at WWF-UK said:

“We’re pleased to learn that the Mexican government is taking this vital step to save the vaquita from extinction. Banning the use of deadly gillnets could help to ensure a future for the ‘panda of the sea’ and safeguard the precious World Heritage site they live in for wildlife and local communities.

"This new agreement will require collective action and a clear and immediate plan for local fishing communities. WWF looks forward to supporting the implementation and monitoring of these efforts alongside our partners. There has been a great deal of support for the cause in the UK and we will continue to put a spotlight on the issue and ensure commitments are delivered to save the vaquita.”

WWF will continue to urge the development of a comprehensive vaquita recovery plan, including the following additional measures, which are vital to help save the species:

1. Immediate authorization of the use and promotion of existing alternative fishing gear (not allowed under current law/regulations), while new sustainable fishing techniques are being developed
2. Clearly articulated prohibition on the transport and/or possession of gillnets in and around the Upper Gulf of California
3. Urgent, coordinated efforts by the Mexican, US, and Chinese governments to end the illegal trafficking of totoaba swim bladders that is driving rampant use of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California

WWF believes that any effort to capture and provide sanctuary for the remaining vaquita and breed them in captivity must be explicitly linked to a plan to return vaquita to the wild once their habitat is secure.

Notes to editors

1. Photos and video footage are available here.
2. On 9 May, WWF asked the public to contact President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico to urge him to take immediate action, with over 200,000 people taking part. Celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Arsenal footballer Aaron Ramsey and Alicia Silverstone have also backed the campaign.
3. WWF recently published a report, Vanishing vaquita: Saving the world’s most endangered marine mammal which is available to download here. The work to save the vaquita is part of a WWF global campaign, Together, Saving Our Shared Heritage, which launched in April 2016 to safeguard natural World Heritage sites. Over 1 million people have taken advocacy actions to the leaders of Belize, Bulgaria, Spain and Tanzania within the first 12 months of the campaign: wwf.org.uk/saveourheritage
4. In April 2017, WWF published a report on illegal wildlife trafficking in World Heritage sites. Despite their recognized value and protected status, the report found that illegal fishing, poaching and logging occur in nearly 50 per cent of natural World Heritage sites, driving endangered species like tigers, elephants and rhinos to the brink of extinction and putting the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities who depend on them at risk.
5. Another significant threat to natural World Heritage sites is harmful industrial activities, with almost half of all sites at risk. A 2016 report published by WWF details the issues faced by natural World Heritage sites and how safeguarding these areas of outstanding universal value can drive sustainable development.
6. About vaquita: The vaquita, meaning ‘little cow’ in Spanish, is the world’s smallest cetacean. It is the world’s rarest marine mammal and is found only in the northern region of the Gulf of California World Heritage site. The vaquita’s unique facial markings (a black ring around each eye and black curved lips) have been compared to a smiling panda. The vaquita is very elusive and was only discovered in 1958. Research on the marine mammal has been very limited but has shown that the vaquita makes strong contributions to the ecosystem and can aid ecosystem recovery.
7. WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive. Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk.